Three-phase mono-diaphragm breathing valve



P 8, 1970 w. K. ANSITE 3,527,242

THREE-PHASE MONO-DIAPHRAGM BREATHING VALVE Filed Sept. 16, 1968 United States Patent 3,527,242 THREE-PHASE MONO-DIAPHRAGM BREATHING VALVE William Kenneth Ansite, Altadena, Calif., assignor to Sierra Engineering Co., Sierra Madre, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 762,221 int. Cl. F161; /14; A62b 9/02 US. Cl. l37- ltl2 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A breathing valve for use in pressurized oxygen breathing systems at high altitudes including a single resiliently flexible disk-shaped diaphragm mounted in a stationary supporting structure, which diaphragm has a central mem ber containing an inlet port which collaborates with an inlet valve seat and a surrounding skirt which collaborates with an exhaust valve seat, the central member and the skirt being flexibly interconnected to permit the skirt and central member to move independently of one another, the diaphragm being flexibly responsive to the pressures developed during a normal breathing cycle so that the central member moves away from the inlet valve seat to permit the inflow of fluid Without disturbing the sealed relationship between the skirt and the exhaust valve seat, the skirt moves away from the exhaust valve seat responsive to the exhale of breathing fluid without disturbing the relationship between the central member and the inlet valve seat, and the skirt flexes so as to open exhaust vents which pass through the edge of the valve seat to permit ambient air to enter the valve in the event of a failure of the supply of breathing fluid.

This invention relates to breathing valves for use on breathing masks and especially those worn in aircraft at relatively high altitudes.

The valve device of this invention finds particular utility in emergency use in pressurized aircraft cabins when the cabin pressure drops below normal breathing requirements. The occupant of the depressurized aircraft cabin quickly places the mask containing the breathing valve device of this invention over his face, and an immediate supply of breathing fluid is available to him.

Considerably difficulty had previously been experienced in obtaining simple, lightweight breathing valves of compact construction and high reliability.

These and other disadvantages of previous devices have been overcome in the present device by providing a breathing valve which has only one diaphragm, which is the only moving part in the valve and which performs the necessary valving operations throughout both the inhale and exhale portions of the breathing cycle and also functions under emergency operating conditions.

The valve device of this invention is adapted for use in a breathing mask and is provided with a rigid supporting structure which has an exhaust valve seat and an inlet valve which has an inlet valve seat. A resiliently flexible disk-shaped diaphragm is mounted in operative association with the supporting structure. The exhaust valve seat is provided with an annular edge at its inner diameter. Perforations or vents pass through the inner edge of the exhaust valve seat. These perforations or vents are sealed by the diaphragm skirt and open when the seal between the skirt and the exhaust seat is opened. The vents or perforations in the exhaust valve seat are so positioned that they are open when the exhaust seal is opened even though the skirt is still in contact with the annular edge of the valve seat. The demand side of the diaphragm faces the inside of the mask, and the supply side of the diaphragm faces away from the mask. A central inlet port in the diaphragm is sealed by the inlet valve seat. An annular central member surrounds and is concentric with the inlet port, and the central member is in turn surrounded by an annular skirt which is concentric with the central member. The skirt is adapted to engage and seal with the exhaust valve seat on the demand side of the diaphragm. The opposite side of the skirt is exposed to the ambient atmosphere. The central member and the skirt is each movable independently of the other into and out of sealing engagement with its respective valve seat. The diaphragm is caused to flex into and out of sealing engagement with the respective valve seats responsive to pressures within the breathing fluid supply system in which it is incorporated. A pressure on the supply side of the diaphragm which is greater than the pressure on the demand side causes the central member to move out of engagement with the inlet valve seat to permit the fiow of breathing fluid from the supply side to the demand side of the diaphragm. This condition occurs on the inhale portion of the normal breathing cycle. A pressure on the demand side of the diaphragm which is greater than that on the supply side causes the central member to move into sealing engagement with the inlet valve seat so as to prevent exhausted breathing fluid from passing from the demand side to the supply side of the diaphragm. Pressure on the demand side of the diaphragm will cause the skirt of the diaphragm to flex out of engagement with the exhaust valve seat so that exhausted breathing fluid passes out through the exhaust vents between the skirt and the exhaust valve seat to the ambient atmosphere. This condition occurs during the exhale portion of the normal breathing cycle. When the supply of breathing fluid becomes exhausted and it is not possible to draw any more breathing fluid into the mask from the supply side of the diaphragm, the diaphragm skirt will be forced out of sealed engagement with the exhaust valve seat by the ambient pressure as soon as this ambient pressure exceeds the pressure inside the mask on the demand side of the diaphragm. This permits the ambient atmosphere to be drawn in through the exhaust vents in the edge of the exhaust valve seat on to the demand side of the diaphragm and into the mask.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially in cross section of the diaphragm;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partially in cross section of the valve device of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device in normal operation taken along line 33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device in an emergency operation taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

In a form of the device chosen for the purpose of illustration there is provided a diaphragm 10 which is mounted in a three-phase monodiaphragm breathing valve indicated generally at 12 in operative association with housing 14 and annular shroud 16. Annular shroud 16 is retained in place in sealing relationship with mask 18 by spider 20. A supply hose 22 is releasably sealed to housing 14. Diaphragm 10 is retained in position between annular shroud 16 and housing 14 by diaphragm mounting member 24. Diaphragm mounting member 24 projects outwardly from and concentrically with skirt 46. Diaphragm 10 is in the form of a resiliently flexible disk which is provided with a supply side 26 and a demand side 28. On the supply side 26 supply hose 22 provides an inlet passage 30 through which fluid flows to inlet throat 32. Inlet valve seat 34 on inlet valve 36 co-operates with the supply side 26 of an annular central member 38 to provide a fluid tight seal. Inlet valve support member 37 retains valve 36 in fixed position in throat 32. Inlet port 40 in diaphragm permits the passage of fluid from the supply side 26 to the demand side 28 of diaphragm 10 when central member 38 is out of sealing engagement with inlet valve seat 34. This flow of fluid through inlet port 40 is indicated by a phantom arrow 42 in FIG. 3. A hollow bead or annular corrugation 44 forms a relatively thinner section which connects central member 38 with annular peripheral skirt 46. Cor rugation 44 is folded into the annular space between central member 38 and peripheral skirt 46 to permit one to move without disturbing the sealing relationship of the other with its respective valve seat. Peripheral skirt 46 is mounted in sealing engagement with exhaust valve seat 48 on annular shroud 16. The demand side 28 of skirt 46 forms a sealing line with valve seat 48 which also seals exhaust vent 50 and exhaust vent 54. Exhaust vents 50 and 54 pass through annular edge 52 of valve seat 48. Exhaust vent 50 is out completely through annular edge 52, whereas exhaust vent 54 is drilled through annular edge 52. Both exhaust vents 50 and 54 are sealed by skirt 46. The side of skirt 46 which is opposite from exhaust valve seat 48 is exposed to ambient atmosphere in exhaust collector chamber 56. Collector chamber 56 opens to the ambient atmosphere through exhaust port 58. The normal exhaust position of skirt 46 is shown in phantom in FIG. 3, and the normal direction of flow of exhausted breathing fluid is shown by phantom arrow 60 in FIG. 3. The emergency operation position of diaphragm 10 is shown in FIG. 4. In emergency operating conditions the ambient pressure exceeds the pressure within the mask 18, and skirt 46 of diaphragm 10 flexes toward demand side 28 with skirt 46 pivoting or rotating about annular edge 52 so that ambient fluid flows through exhaust port 58 into collector chamber 56, as shown by phantom arrow 62 in FIG. 4, and through vents 50 and 54 onto the demand side 28 of diaphragm 10, as shown by phantom arrow 64 in FIG. 4. The outer periphery of skirt 46 is provided with a lip 65 which lends suflicient rigidity to skirt 46 to prevent its folding in an irregular pattern during use.

The three-phase mono-diaphragm breathing valve 12 is assembled by positioning diaphragm mounting member 24 on boss 66 of housing 14. The annular shroud 16 is passed through a 'hole in mask 18 and is positioned adjacent spider 20 as shown in FIG. 3. The housing 14, carrying diaphragm 10. is then positioned adjacent to annular shroud .16; and housing 14, shroud 16, and spider 20 are secured together in sealing relationship with mask 18 by means of fastener 68. Supply hose 22 is then positioned in fluid tight relationship with flange 70 on housing 14.

In use the diaphragm 10 moves responsive to the pressure generated by the normal breathing cycle of the wearer of mask 18. During the inhale portion of the breathing cycle, the pressure on the supply side 26 of diaphragm 10 is greater than the pressure of the demand side 28 of diaphragm 10 so that central member 38 moves axially away from the inlet valve seat 34. This opens a fluid passageway so that a supply of breathing fluid flows through inlet passage 30, around inlet valve 36, through inlet port 40, and into the interior of mask 18 where it is inhaled by the wearer of mask 18. Corrugation 44 flexes to permit the axial movement of central member 38 without disturbing the sealing relationship between skirt 46 and exhaust valve seat 48.

During the exhale portion of the normal breathing cycle, the skirt 46 of diaphragm 10 deflects downwardly away from exhaust valve seat 48 responsive to the normal breathing pressure on the demand side of diaphragm 10. This pressure is in excess of the ambient pressure which prevails in exhaust collector chamber 56 and to which the opposite side of the skirt 46 is exposed. During the ex- 4 haust portion of the breathing cycle, the exhausted breathing fluid passes out through exhaust vents 50 and 54, which are disposed around the periphery of exhaust valve seat 48, past the downwardly deflected skirt 46, into exhaust collector chamber 56, and out through exhaust port 58. When the pressure of the exhaled breathing fluid is sufliciently strong, it will deflect skirt 46 to a position where it is completely out of contact with the annular edge 52 of exhaust valve seat 48. The corrugation 44 flexes sufficiently to permit skirt 46 to move independently of central member 38 so that the sealing relationship between the supply side of central member 38 and valve seat 34 is not disturbed, and the passage of exhausted breathing fluid through inlet port 40 is prevented. During emergency operation when the supply of breathing fluid is exhausted and the pressure on the demand side of diaphragm 10 is reduced during the inhale portion of the breathing cycle to a value which is less than that of the ambient pressure in exhaust collector chamber 56, diaphragm 10 will assume the position indicated in FIG. 4. As indicated in FIG. 4, during the inhale portion of the breathing cycle under emergency conditions, skirt 46 rotates or pivots about edge 52 breaking the seal be tween skirt 46 and exhaust valve seat 48 so as to open exhaust vents 50 and 54. In this configuration ambient breathing fluid is drawn in through exhaust port 58 into exhaust collector chamber 56 and through vents 50 and 54 into the interior of mask 18 where it is inhaled by the wearer of mask 18. The exhale portion of the emergency operation of this three-phase mono-diaphragm breathing valve 12 is the same as that during normal operation as described in more detail above.

The diaphragm 10 is composed of a flexible material which, because of its inherent resiliency, will return to its generally disc-shaped configuration when relieved from pressure. Diaphragm 10 is composed of an elastomeric material which retains its characteristics over a wide range of temperatures, such as those encountered at high altitides in aircraft cabins. Suitable elastomeric materials include; for example, neoprene rubber, polyurethane elastomers, and silicone rubber.

The only moving part in breathing valve 12 is the diaphragm itself. The breathing valve 12 is simple and easy to maintain and is compact and lightweight.

What has been described are preferred embodiments in which changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve device comprising:

a rigid supporting structure having an exhaust valve seat and an inlet valve seat, said exhaust valve seating having an edge and an exhaust vent through said edge;

a resilient diaphragm having a supply side and a demand side, said diaphragm being retained in operative association with said valve seats, said diaphragm comprising a central member engageable with said inlet valve seat on the supply side of said diaphragm, said central member having an inlet port therein sealable by engagement of said central member and said inlet valve seat, said diaphragm having a skirt spaced outwardly from said central member, one side of said skirt being engageable with said exhaust valve seat on the demand side of said diaphragm, and the other side of said skirt being opened to ambient pressure, said central member and said skirt each being capable of flexing independently of the other, said central member being responsive to a positive supply pressure differential across said diaphragm to disengage from said inlet valve seat to open said inlet port, said skirt being responsive to a positive demand pressure differential across said diaphragm to flex out of sealing engagement with said exhaust valve seat, said diaphragm also being responsive to a positive ambient pressure differential across said skirt to flex and turn about said edge to open said exhaust vent to ambient pressure for reverse flow therethrough.

A valve device comprising:

a rigid supporting structure having an annular exhaust valve seat and an annular inlet valve seat, said exhaust valve seat having an annular edge at its inner periphery and an exhaust vent through such edge;

resilient diaphragm having a supply side and a demand side mounted in operative association with said rigid support structure, said diaphragm comprising an elastic disc having a central inlet port scalable by said inlet valve seat, an annular central member surrounding and concentric with said inlet port, the supply side of said central member being sealably engageable with said inlet valve seat, an annular skirt surrounding and concentric with said central member, one side of said skirt being sealably engageable with said exhaust valve seat on the demand side of said diaphragm and the other side of said skirt being open to ambient pressure, said central member and said skirt each being capable of flexing independently of the other, said central member being adapted to flex out of sealing engagement With said inlet valve seat responsive to a positive supply pressure differential on the supply side of said diaphragm, said skirt being adapted to flex out of sealing engagement with said exhaust valve seat responsive to a positive demand pressure differential on the demand side of said diaphragm, and said skirt also being adapted to flex and rotate about said annular edge to open said exhaust vent to ambient pressure for reverse flow therethrough responsive to a positive ambient pressure differential on the ambient side of said diaphragm.

3. The valve device of claim 2 wherein said diaphragm includes an annular connecting section joining said central member with said skirt, said connecting section being of relatively greater flexibility than said mem ber and said skirt.

4. The valve device of claim 2 including a plurality of exhaust vents spaced around the said annular edge.

5. The valve device of claim 2 wherein said diaphragm includes an annular connecting section connecting said central member and said skirt, said connecting section having a breadth greater than the breadth of the space between said skirt and said central member, said connecting section being folded in said space.

6. The valve device of claim 2 including an annular corrugation relatively thinner than the remainder of said diaphragm connected respectively to the outer perimeter of said central member and the inner perimeter of said skirt, and said diaphragm being adapted to flex at said corrugation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,467 3/1936 Groeniger 137218 X 2,947,313 8/1960 Taylor 137-102 3,083,707 4/1963 Seeler 137-63 RX 3,365,100 12/1967 Seeler 137--512.4 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,187,441 2/1965 Germany.

ALAN COHAN, Primary Examiner R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

